Baby meerkat takes first steps at Chester Zoo (From Wirral Globe)

Baby meerkat takes first steps at Chester Zoo

9:45am Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

A BABY meerkat at Chester Zoo has taken its first steps in the outside world.

The three-week-old pup is the zoo’s newest resident and has now made its debut public appearance after being hidden away by its parents.

But the tiny newcomer, whose gender is not yet known, is still waiting to be named by zookeepers.

Keeper Chris Grindle said: "The pup is doing really well and has now started exploring its exhibit with the adults. Soon it'll learn to forage and dig in the sand for grubs.

"It's too small to sex at the moment but we should know if it's male or female in the next couple of weeks."

The news comes hot on the heels of other new arrivals at the zoo as a rare baby giant anteater and a female elephant calf - the second to be born at the zoo in less than 12 weeks - have also arrived in 2013.